News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by rrggrr on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @01:32PM (#9102544)
For those wondering when China, the EU or others will overtake the United States' reserve currency status and/or safe-haven status consider this data dump.

Currency <-- confidence <-- accountability <-- transparency.

Is the USGOV transparent? No. Is it more transparent than any alternative? Yes. Auditing the Fed and Ft. Knox would be welcome additions. FOIA access to US and State Courts would be nice as well.

Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by taylorwc on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @01:36PM (#9102571)
Actually the Fed is audited[1]. It's been done by Deloitte for a while now.

[1] http://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/annual-report/201...

Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by afiedler on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @03:25PM (#9103255)
The Fed also releases all of the memos that are used by the FOMC to set monetary policy. It just releases them with a five year lag. It also releases transcripts of all FOMC meetings and conference calls, plus all presentation slides used [1].

It really is quite transparent, and I'd argue that releasing things with a codified lag is a good balance between the need for secrecy and the public's right to know.

You can even see the options for wording of the FOMC's statements, considered to be some of the most sensitive material at the Fed. It's contained in the section of the "Bluebook" produced prior to the FOMC meeting called "Alternative Statement Language". [2]

Source: used to work there and make some of the charts and models that go into those documents.

[1]: http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomchistorical2...

[2]: http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC20080..., page 27

Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by dantheman on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @02:32PM (#9102934)
That's an audit of the Fed's expenses etc, it's not an audit of it's policy/actions.
Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by snowwrestler on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @03:30PM (#9103286)
Yes, the "audit the Fed" movement is really about increasing the influence of Congress on Fed policy decisions, not financial controls the way we normally think of them.

The Fed was designed to be independent of Congress and the fight over whether that was the right decision is still being waged.

Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by sswaner on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @09:52PM (#9105007)
And rrgrr's concern about China overtaking the US will happen shortly after the Fed looses it's independence. The open deliberations of Congress lend little to the fight against special interests subverting common sense.
Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by krschultz on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @03:25PM (#9103253)
What do you mean by audit of it's policy? Can you link to a policy audit of any other public institution?

I honestly can not picture what a policy audit of the fed would even look like. What's the deliverable?

Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by pekk on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @02:52PM (#9103056)
What are the rules for a policy audit? Are there universal guidelines we can use to policy audit the decisions made by individual politicians?
Re:U.S. OMB to release largest index of government data in t... by taylorwc on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @02:42PM (#9102995)
I believe certain of its actions are subject to audit by the Office of the Inspector General and others by the OMB. Regardless, your point stands that a comprehensive audit of the Fed's actions is not readily available.